Uggah: Sarawak remains on track to complete eight major bridges this year

KUCHING (March 31): Sarawak’s plan to complete eight major bridges this year remains on track despite concerns over rising material costs and conflicts in the Middle East and West Asia, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

The Infrastructure and Port Development Minister said while there could be minor disruptions, these would not derail construction schedules.

“For the eight bridges that we hope or plan to complete this year, we are not really worried about the problem. There may be some issues, but it will not reach a point where it will disrupt construction.

“We are confident the projects will progress as planned and are closely monitoring the situation,” he told reporters when met after officiating the Sarawak Infrastructure Engagement Programme 2026 at a leading hotel here.

He said the Sarawak government is keeping a close watch on supply chains and procurement planning, including sourcing of construction materials, to mitigate any potential impact from external factors.

“That is why recently, I immediately went to check on the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) 2 project to discuss with them (contractors) on their material procurement programme, where they source their materials and so on, because we want to ensure their planning takes into account what is happening.

“As far as the bridges are concerned, I don’t think we have a problem. There may be minor issues, but not to the extent that it will disrupt our schedule to be completed this year,” he said, adding that the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge project is progressing well.

He also said that although construction material prices have increased, both the federal and state governments are studying the situation and exploring ways to address the challenges.

“All tenders are done through open tender, and although there are some hitches, our team is closely monitoring all projects to ensure they stay on track,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Uggah reaffirmed the state’s commitment to accelerating infrastructure delivery under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), noting that bridge construction remains among the most high-profile initiatives.

He said Sarawak completed nine bridges last year and is targeting to complete the remaining eight this year, with the Batang Lupar Bridge – set to be the longest river bridge in Malaysia – among the key milestones.

In terms of overall infrastructure performance, Uggah noted that the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak had completed 11,902 projects worth RM27.6 billion under the previous plan, achieving 78 per cent implementation with a 9.2 per cent increase in performance.

Looking ahead, he said a total of 852 federal- and state-funded projects worth RM52.4 billion have been approved under the 13MP.

“Of these, 287 projects worth RM26.5 billion are currently under construction, while another 565 projects valued at RM25.8 billion are in the tender preparation stage,” he said.

Uggah stressed that strong coordination, discipline and continuous engagement between government agencies and elected representatives would be crucial to ensure smooth implementation.

He said the Sarawak Infrastructure Engagement Programme was introduced to strengthen communication with state elected representatives and gather feedback on project implementation, including identifying approved projects that have yet to commence and resolving outstanding issues on the ground.

“We want frank feedback so that we can formulate better strategies moving forward and ensure that all approved projects are implemented effectively,” he said.

Among those present at the event were Minister in the Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai, Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Deputy Infrastructure and Port Development Ministers Datuk Aidel Lariwoo and Datuk Majang Renggi, Deputy State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Dato Idris Buang, and JKR Sarawak director Datu Dr Cassidy Morris.